DoubleEnders - Cessna O-2B 9th SOS Phan Rang AB 1971.jpg (1/1)

That is certainly a great picture of an O-2B. However, I don't think it was taken at Phan Rang AB.

I was a crew chief with the 9th SOS "A" Flight in Da Nang from April 1969 to April 1970. We were originally located next to the control tower at mid field, a few months after I arrived, we moved to the covered revetments you see in the picture. These were located almost directly opposite "Gunfighter Village" which was very convenient for us. Also, the number on the aircraft is one of the numbers that I recall being at Da Nang.

If you do a bit of research, you will also discover, there were no covered revetments of this type at Phan Rang.

I served a second tour in Viet Nam during 1971-1972 as a flight engineer on C-123's in the 310th Tactical Airlift Squadron. Initially we were in Phan Rang. The base began to close early in 1972 and we moved to Tan Son Nhut in late January. There were no covered concrete revetments at Phan Rang that I saw. I did not see any O-2B's either, they had probably moved out by the time I got there. I made a final flight to Phan Rang in either late May or early June carrying a load of reporters to cover the official "Vietnamization" of Phan Rang. It was the official closing ceremony.

As a side note, I believe I recognize the man directing the aircraft. He was from Missouri, and quite a character. Everyone liked him, but I cannot recall his name, we all had nicknames and his has not popped up yet.

It is great to see the pictures though!

Ted R.

Originally Posted by TReischl

That is certainly a great picture of an O-2B. However, I don't think it was taken at Phan Rang AB.

I was a crew chief with the 9th SOS "A" Flight in Da Nang from April 1969 to April 1970. We were originally located next to the control tower at mid field, a few months after I arrived, we moved to the covered revetments you see in the picture. ...

If you do a bit of research, you will also discover, there were no covered revetments of this type at Phan Rang.

... There were no covered concrete revetments at Phan Rang that I saw. It is great to see the pictures though!

Ted R.

Ted, you are right about the covered revetments at DaNang ... I and my fellow RedHorseMen built the first of them (late 1968 through Spring 1969).

You are completely wrong about Phan Rang, however. When I left DaNang I returned to Phan Rang where I and my fellow 554 Red Horse brothers built many of them. You can still see them on Google Maps.